Soil Phosphorus Availability and Utilization: Interfacial Reactions, Chemical–Microbial Processes and Agronomic Management

Dear Colleagues,

Phosphorus (P) is an essential yet often limiting nutrient in agroecosystems, and its inefficient utilization has long constrained crop productivity while contributing to environmental risks. Over past decades, research on soil phosphorus has evolved from bulk chemical characterization toward a process-based understanding that integrates chemical speciation, microbial mediation, and interfacial reactions occurring at micro- to sub-millimeter scales. Recent advances highlight that P availability and utilization are governed by coupled chemical–microbial processes at key interfaces, including soil–mineral, soil–water, rhizosphere, and residue–soil interfaces.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide an integrated platform to advance mechanistic and applied knowledge on soil phosphorus availability and utilization, with particular emphasis on interfacial reactions, chemical–microbial interactions, and agronomic management strategies. We seek to bridge fundamental processes with practical implications for sustainable crop production and phosphorus stewardship.

This Special Issue welcomes cutting-edge research employing innovative experimental approaches, such as high-resolution chemical imaging, isotopic tracing, molecular microbial tools, and process-based modeling, to unravel phosphorus dynamics across scales. Contributions addressing the impacts of fertilization regimes, organic amendments, crop–microbe interactions, and management practices on phosphorus efficiency are especially encouraged.

We solicit original research articles and comprehensive reviews that provide novel insights into soil phosphorus transformations, bioavailability regulation, and agronomic optimization, contributing to sustainable phosphorus management in agricultural systems.

Dr. Dong-Xing Guan
Dr. Kai Ding
Guest Editors

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